Device for storing sporting goods

ABSTRACT

The general purpose of the disclosed device is to ergonomically store athletic and sports equipment in a vertical, space-friendly way. The device is adjustable, in that it can be raised and lowered, allowing for people of all ages and sizes to be able to access its various storage components. The main system includes a base at the top allowing attachment to a ceiling. It then extends vertically down with straps with enough tension to be used to secure various sports balls. The straps come together at a bottom base. The bottom base has slots allowing for items to be hung there. Along the straps are various slots allowing different types of sports items to hang.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application is related to provisional application Ser. No. 61/785,758 ('758) filed on Mar. 14, 2013 entitled “Device for Storing Sporting Goods” and is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The '021 application was filed under first to invent rules since it was file prior to Mar. 16, 2013.

FIELD OF DISCLOSURE

This application discloses a device for holding all sorts of sports equipment from balls to sticks to helmets and bats, holding them neatly while utilizing as small a space as possible. Specifically the disclosure relates to a vertical hanging system designed to keep balls (soccer balls, volleyballs, basketballs, and baseballs), racquets, helmets and various sports gear in one easy-to-use location and to keep clutter off the floor.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Because sports are becoming increasingly specialized, more specialized gear is being used to play them. This is causing more equipment to be purchased, driving a need for better space utilization to store the gear. The purpose of instant device is to help people keep all this equipment in a reasonably small, well-organized area. With only limited space in basements and garages, it is clear that such a device needs to be vertical in nature. One of the few spaces left in garages and basements is the ceiling. By hanging a device from the ceiling, the device helps eliminate clutter on the ground and makes use of unused space.

In an effort to address this need for such sporting equipment storage devices, there have been other devices to help support some facet of sports equipment. Yet existing devices hold only a few balls, or in some cases include only devices with pegs that don't allow for the holding of balls. For example U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,550 by Sheehan et al disclosed a peg board system. U.S. Pat. No. 7,021,460 by Roebeck discloses an adjustable hanging sports equipment holder and dispenser that only holds balls. U.S. Pat. No. 7,398,888 by Nowak is a sports equipment rack that holds various sports equipment, but is in rack configuration that does meet the need for a device hanging from the ceiling that helps eliminate clutter on the ground and makes use of unused space.

SUMMARY

The general purpose of the disclosed device is to ergonomically store athletic and sports equipment in a vertical, space-friendly way. The device is adjustable, in that it can be raised and lowered, allowing for people of all ages and sizes to be able to access its various storage components.

The device for storing sports items includes: an upper base mounted to a ceiling or other high point; a retracting device coupled on a first end to the upper base and coupled on a second end to a plurality of straps; and the straps are coupled to a lower base where the device may store round ball shapes within the straps; the straps may have slots for holding hooks for holding hookable devices and the lower base includes slots for holding stick devices and hooks for holding hookable devices and bags.

The main system is comprised of a base at the top, allowing attachment to a ceiling. It then extends vertically down with a plurality of rubber/Bungee type material straps with enough tension to be used to secure various sports balls. The straps come together at a bottom base. The bottom base has slots allowing for racquets, bats and sticks to be hung there, keeping these various items off of the floor.

Along the plurality of straps are various slots where the user can attach hooks, allowing different types of sports helmets, football, baseball and bike to hang. The hooks are interchangeable, allowing each user to space items according to his or her needs.

Below the bottom base are a plurality of hanging bags or sacks that allow the user to store various sports accessories, such as baseballs, tennis balls, hockey pucks, golf balls, and more. These bags are detachable, enabling the user to remove and transport these bags to their various sports practices, driving range or wherever necessary. The bags are made in such a way that the user can simply insert the objects directly into the bag, either from the top of the bag or right through the mesh side of the bag. This should make it easier for both children and adults to load the bag more easily as it hangs from the unit.

Another unique functionality of the device is that the top of the unit features a retractable reel from which the user can raise and lower the device from the ceiling. This allows it to hang lower for younger or shorter children. Once loaded, a user can raise the device to remove clutter from the lower floor area.

Further objects and advantages of the current device will be clear from the following detailed description of the presently preferred design, which is illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates the device in use;

FIG. 2 illustrates the device in its full view without holding any equipment;

FIG. 3 illustrates the device holding the various types of sports equipment that could be stored in it and/or on it;

FIG. 4 illustrates the retractable nature of the device, specifically the retractor itself;

FIG. 5 illustrates the straps that are used and the interchangeable position of the hooks on a strap;

FIG. 6 illustrates how the hooks can be placed up and down each strap according to the user's preference;

FIG. 7 illustrates a view of a circular base and a plurality of holding inserts; and

FIG. 8 illustrates using a holding insert that allows for the user to hang various types of racquets, bats or sticks and

FIG. 9 also illustrates the hanging capability for the removable bags.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The general purpose of the disclosed device is to ergonomically store athletic and sports equipment in a vertical, space-friendly way. The device is adjustable, in that it can be raised and lowered, allowing for people of all ages and sizes to be able to access its various storage components.

FIG. 1 illustrates a pictorial view of an embodiment of a device 10 in use with various pieces of sports equipment installed. The device is comprised of a base 12 at the top, allowing attachment to a ceiling or other high point 14. It then extends vertically down a plurality of straps 16 that are used to secure various sports balls. The straps come together at a bottom base 18. The bottom base 18 has a plurality of bottom base slots 20 allowing for racquets, bats and sticks to be hung there, keeping these various items off of the floor and an exemplary diameter of approximately 12 inches.

Along each of the plurality of straps 16 are a plurality of various strap slots 22 where the user can attach large hooks 26, allowing different types of sports helmets, football, baseball and bike to hang. The hooks are interchangeable, allowing each user to space items according to his or her needs.

Attached to the bottom base are a plurality of small bottom base hooks 24 and a plurality of large hooks 26 coupled to the circumference of the bottom base 18.

Below the bottom base 18 are a plurality of hanging bags or sacks 26 attached to the bottom base with the smaller hooks 30 that allow for the user to store various sports accessories, such as baseballs, tennis balls, hockey pucks, golf balls, and more. The hanging bags or sacks 24 are detachable, enabling the user to remove and transport these bags to their various sports practices, driving range or wherever necessary. The bags are made in such a way that the user can simply insert the objects directly into the bag, either from the top of the bag or right through the mesh side of the bag. This should make it easier for both children and adults to load the bag more easily as it hangs from the unit.

FIG. 2 illustrates the device 10 in its full view without holding any equipment. As discussed above, the device is comprised of a top base 12 at the top, allowing attachment to a ceiling or other high point 14. It then extends vertically down a plurality of straps 16. The straps come together at a bottom base 18. The bottom base 18 has a plurality of bottom base slots 30 around the circumference of the bottom base 18. Along the plurality of straps 16 are a plurality of various strap slots 22.

Below the bottom base 18 are a plurality of hanging bags or sacks 24. The hanging bags or sacks 24 are detachable.

FIG. 3 illustrates the device 10 holding the various types of sports equipment that could be stored in it.

FIG. 4 illustrates a unique functionality of the device 10. The top of the device features a retractable reel 28 from which the user can raise and lower the device 10 from the ceiling or other high point. This allows the device 10 to hang lower for younger or shorter children. Once loaded, one can raise the device 10 to remove clutter from the lower floor area. The retractable device 28 can be positioned between a maximum height for the device and a minimum height for the device. The retractable reel has an exemplary adjustment range of approximately two or three feet. The retractable reel mechanism is comparable to the size and structure of the retractable reels found in vacuum cleaners. FIG. 4 illustrates the retractable nature of the device, specifically the retractor itself, which is made of a metal/plastic material with a nylon/metal cord that will raise and lower with a pull on the device.

FIG. 5 illustrates the straps that will be used and the interchangeable nature of the hooks. The strap hooks 26 are placed into one or more strap slots 22 to provide a location for hookable devices to be stored.

FIG. 6 illustrates how a plurality of strap slots 22 are placed up and down each strap 16 to be used according to a user's preference.

FIG. 7 illustrates a bottom base 18 with its bottom base slots 20.

FIG. 8 illustrates a bottom base 18 with a pair of hanging bags or sacks 24 hanging from a plurality of bottom base hooks 30 coupled to the bottom of bottom base. The coupling hooks 32 are used to couple the straps 16 to the bottom base 18.

The plurality of straps 16 connecting the top base and the bottom base and supporting balls is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 and 5-8 with four straps for clarity, however, various embodiments of the device may use different sizes and or a larger quantity of stripes. The number may range from 4-12. The plurality rubber/Bungee type material straps have enough tension to be used to secure various sports balls as illustrated above.

FIG. 9 illustrates the bottom base hooked to the straps for ball support 16 by the bottom base hooks 30. FIG. 9 also illustrates a use for the bottom base slots. Here a bottom base slot 30 is used to support a baseball bat.

The general purpose of the disclosed device is to ergonomically store athletic and sports equipment in a vertical, space-friendly way. The device is adjustable, in that it can be raised and lowered, allowing for people of all ages and sizes to be able to access its various storage components.

The main system is comprised of a base at the top 12, allowing attachment to a ceiling. It then extends vertically down with a plurality of rubber/Bungee type material straps 16 with enough tension to be used to secure various sports balls. The straps come together at a bottom base. The bottom base has slots allowing for racquets, bats and sticks to be hung there, keeping these various items off of the floor.

Along the straps 16 are various slots 22 where the user can attach hooks, allowing different types of sports helmets, football, baseball and bike to hang. The hooks are interchangeable, allowing each user to space items according to his or her needs.

Below the bottom base are a plurality of hanging bags or sacks that allow for the user to store various sports accessories, such as baseballs, tennis balls, hockey pucks, golf balls, and more. These bags are detachable, enabling the user to remove and transport these bags to their various sports practices, driving range or wherever necessary. The bags are made in such a way that the user can simply insert the objects directly into the bag, either from the top of the bag or right through the mesh side of the bag. This should make it easier for both children and adults to load the bag more easily as it hangs from the unit.

Another unique functionality of the device is that the top of the unit features a retractable reel from which the user can raise and lower the device from the ceiling. This allows it to hang lower for younger or shorter children. Once loaded, you can raise the device to remove clutter from the lower floor area.

The device is built from lightweight material and is designed to be portable and reusable. It can be hung in the garage, basement, closet or any other ceiling the user finds appropriate. The device is designed for use in a home or outside of the home, including the gym or office where there may also be a need to hold sports gear.

It is also understood that while trying to explain the various uses of this device, it is not limited solely to the applications that are laid out in this brief description. The device is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology stated herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limits to the device. 

I claim:
 1. A device for storing items: comprising: an upper base mounted to a ceiling or other high point; a retracting device coupled on a first end to said upper base and coupled on a second end to a first end of plurality of straps; second ends of said straps are coupled to a lower base; said straps include strap slots for holding hooks for holding hookable devices; said lower base includes base slots for holding stick devices and base hooks for holding hookable devices and bags.
 2. wherein said device may store round ball shapes within said straps;
 3. said straps include slots for holding hooks for holding hookable devices and
 4. 